Adjustable stool and the like



Aug. 6, 1.935. E. J. LEECH ADJUSTABLE STOOL AND THE LIKE Filed March 2,'1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Augqe, 193s. E. J.. LEECH Y V2,010,306

ADJUSTABLE STOOL AND THE (LIKE,

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES iSAiENT oil-*FICE ADJUSTABLE strooi.ANp THE LIKE. Edward J. Leech; YlKewaunee, Wis.,.as'signor,` by mesneassignments, to Charles T. Campbell and James A. Campbell, Kewaunee,Wis. Application March 2, 1933, serial No. 659,251 1 oiaim. (ci. 15s-94) This invention relates to extensible or adjustable supports, andwhile it will be hereinafter more particularly explained as embodied insupports for stools adjustable as to height, it will be `5 readilyapparent that it has `other valuable applications and uses and is easilycapable of embodiment in supports in which adjustment verti-l cally,horizontally, or at angles to the horizontal and vertical are desired. if6 The invention has for a principal objectjthe provision of anadjustable stool or seat `which may beV adjusted to desired height bymerely raising the seat, retaining or locking means of improvedconstruction and operation being `provided to support the seat in thedesired raised position, together with means automatically op.- erativewhen the seat is lifted to its full height; to unlock said retainingmeans to permit lowering of the seat. 2o Numerous other objectsandadvantages of the invention will be apparent as it isbetterunderstood from the following description, which, .taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring tothe drawings: l

FiguresV 1 and 24 are perspective views respectively, of a three-leggedstool and a four-legged chair in which the instant invention isincorporated, various positions of the parts being indicated by dottedlines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial vertical section through the upper portionof the stool shown in Fig. 1; l, Fig. 4 is a partial top plan view ofthe sea 35 mounting of the stool;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the topr of one Aof the retainermembers, the shaft `support being shownin section; Y l v Fig. 6 is anenlarged vertical section through a retainer and associated parts,;theshaft support being shown in section, andthe parts beingarranged forsupporting the stool or chair in its adjusted positions;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. ,6, showing the automatic arrangementoi? the parts when the seat, is lifted to itsfullheight;

I, Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the relation of the parts when theseat is lowered to its lowermost position; I i

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are transverse sectionstaken `respectively upon thelines 9 9, Ill-I0 and II-IIofFig.1; I Y f A Fig. 12 is asection takensimilarly to Fig. 9 and showing the support of a shaft of square sectionand by. the useof roller as contra-distinguished from ball members;

Fig. 13 is a section taken similarly to Fig. 10 and showing` a shaftsquare in section and a releasing member of similar construction; andV 5Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and showing a Aconstruction adaptedfor horizontal as contradistinguished from vertical extension.

[,The'preferred embodiment of the invention, which is shown in Figs. 1to llof thedrawings, 10 isadapted for the adjustable support of stoolsand chairs and the like and may advantageously be'einployed when theseat of the stool Aor chair is supported upon a single pedestal or upon`a plurality of supports. In Fig. 1 a threeflegged 15 stool is depictedand in Fig. 2 a four-legged chair.

, In each ofl these constructions a rigid base is provided and` consistsof tubular legs II Yand frame members I2. The legs II are or may be ofmetal tubing bent out beneath the lower frame member at I3 into downwardinclination as indicated atk I4 and terminate in widely spaced feetI5Vto giveiirm support. Each frame memberrI2 "is `or may be but a`stamping of sheet metal having skeleton configuration correspond- 25ing Ato .the` arrangement of the legs. Generally each `frame memberconsists of a horizontal part IIv and an encompassing4 downwardlyextending ange jI`I. The legs lare arranged through openings I8 in thecorners of the frame members. 30 Thelegs and frame members are rigidlyconnected in suitable fashion. Conveniently the upper frame" may befixed in place by locking it between shoulders I0` formed in the tubularmembers and J the lower ends of the retainers 2l threadedlyV en- 35gaged, asindicated at 20 in Fig. 6, with the ends of thlegs extendingythrough the openings I8. As will, be presently more fully explained, aretainer is provided at the top of each leg to lock in co-operation withparts carried by it the seat 22 in various adjusted positions.

In the ,stool of Fig. 1 the 'seat 22 is freely rotatable upon atop plate23- which is xed upon andcarried by three supporting shafts 24V thatextend down through the =retainers 2| andinto the legs II. VThe upperend of each supporting shaft 24j is jorimay be reduced in diameter, vasindicated, at 2.5. in Fig. 3. This reduced portion of the shaft'isdisposed through a suitable opening provided within a countersink 26 inthe sup- 50 porting plate 23 `and the extremity of the shaft is or maybe riveted, as indicated atl2'l, to hold the parts together. Asupporting plate 23 is preferably of vthe'same shape. as the` frameplates I2, except that it is not cut toskeleton form. 55

It is or may be provided with a circular recess 23 to provide a racewayfor a ball bearing unit 29. The seat 22 is mounted upon an under plateSi recessed at 32. to provide a companion raceway for the bearing. Aking or pivot bolt 33 is arranged at the axis of rotation to hold theparts in fixed rotatable relation.

The preferred form of locking mechanism for supporting the seat invariously vertically adjusted positions is illustrated in detail inFigs. 6 to Il and is duplicated in each of the legs ofthe stool.

In this construction the shaft and the adjacent parts are circular incross-section. The retainer is provided interiorly and near its top witha downwardly converging conical face lil which converges with thecylindrical face of the shaft.

A plurality of balls l2 are arranged betweenthese converging faces toprovide free rolling locking members adapted to bind by reason ofengagement with the shaft in its downward movement or under the pressureof its load. It is possible to have a single ball or free rolling memberto lock the parts in their assumed positions, but a series of them aredesirable to eliminate side thrusts or lateral strains. From so much ofthe construction as is justr described, it will be apparent that theseat of the stool may be raised by merely lifting it. This action tendsto roll the balls up out of binding relation with the surfaces of theretainer and shaft. The least movement of the shaft in the oppositedirection, however, returns them into wedged locking relation to supportthe shaft, seat, and person sitting upon it.

Means are` provided for moving the balls 42 or other fre-e rollingmembers out of operative position and to hold them from engagement whenit is desired to lower the stool. In vthe instant embodiment of theinvention this means comprises a sleeve i3 arranged between the innercylindrical surface M of the retainer beneath the conical or convergingwall M and the adiacent face or outer cylindrical surface of thesupporting shaft 2s. The lower end of the sleeve i3 is tapered, asindicated at d5. A recess 48 is cut circumferentially in from thesurface @d of the retainer and a spring ring member 41 is arranged inthis recess to contract inwardly about the sleeve and frictionally holdit in assumed positions.

The lower end of the supporting shaft 211 is slotted circumferentiallyat 68 and e9 to receive rings 50 and 5l which form protruding shouldersand the dimension of the parts is such that these shoulders fit nicelyand easily in sliding engagement within the bore of the leg. The upperring 50 is so located that when the seat of the stool is nearing the endof its upward travel the ring 5@ engages the sharpened edge d5 of thelower end of the sleeve d3 and moves the sleeve upwardly so that its topedge engages and lifts the balls out of position for locking contactwith the converging surfaces of the sleeve and shaft. In this movementthe sleeve is carried past the friction ring if into the position shownin Fig. 7. The seat of the stool may now be lowered without obstructionby the balls to its lowermost position. Means are provided toautomatically return the sleeve into inoperative position so that theballs or free rolling members may re-engage to lock in successiveadjusted positions as the seat is again raised.

The chamber inrwhich the balls are contained is closed at the top by anannulus 52 arranged v surfaces.

about the shaft and firmly engaged at 53 with the upper open end of theretainer. A ring 56 is arranged about the shaft and above the balls 42and is provided with a plurality of upwardly eX- tending arms 55 whichare arranged through slots 55 cut in the annulus 52 for the purpose. Thering member 513 is freely movable through the annulus and rests upon theballs at all times and serves during the adjustments of the seat topress the balls into engagement with the converging The ring member 561is lifted with the balls as they are elevated by the sleeve 13, and thetop limit of movement of the seat is reached when the ring memberengages the inner face of the annulus 52. As the supporting shaft ismoved down, the ring member is held in this top position by the sleeveacting through the balls. When the seat approaches the lower end of itstravel, a lshoulder 5l extending out circumferentially at the topbey-ond the body of the shaft engages the tops of the upwardly extendingarms 55 and forces the ring member, the balls, and the sleevedownwardly, as may be illustrated in Fig. 8, and until the balls limitthe downward movement by wedging between the converging surfaces. As aresult of this movement, normal arrangements permitting the adjustmentsdescribed are re-established. The shoulder 5l is or may be provided upona bushing 58 arranged about a reduced top portion 59 of the shaft, asmay be observed in Fig. 8.

Various forms of shafts and various forms of free rolling members may beprovided. Attention in this respect is called to Figs. l2 and 13 asillustrative constructions, although it will be apparent that otherforms also might be employed. In these two figures the shaft indicatedby reference character Si is square in transverse section andaccordingly fits into a square bore t2 in the retainer 63. Either ballsor roller members Sii may be provided between the converging surface ofthe retainer and the presented face 66 of the supporting shaft. Thesleeve which lifts the rollers out of operative position, which isindicated at 6l, likewise is or may be of square inner and outerconguration. The spring member 68 conveniently is of general rectangularshape with its sides 69 bent in for pressure engagement with the flatpresented surfaces of the sleeve B1. Thus constructed, the parts operateexactly in the manner already described and Figs. 6, '7 and 8 may betaken to be vertical central sections through the structures of Figs. l2and 13.

As has been earlier suggested, the invention has or may have valuableuse when arranged horizontally for supporting bodies in variousadiustable positions. All that is necessary for hori- Zontal arrangementis the provision of means to insure that the balls Ior other freerolling membersmaintain contact both with the converging surface and theshaft surface. This may be accomplished as illustrated in Fig. 14, bythe arrangement of a spring H between the ring member 5d and the closureannulus 52. It is desirable to provide shoulders 12 on the arms 55 tostop the outward movement of the sleeve, independently of the spring 'Hand before it is compressed to solid condition.

Stools of the character shown in Fig. l are not infrequently used inlaboratories and other places where it is important that the user mayquickly arrange the stool in the same adjustment upon differentoccasions, and accordingly indicated means are or may be provided. Aslot 8| is arranged through one of the legs I l and between the framesI2. An indicator 82 secured to the lower end of the supporting shaft 24is arranged through the slot 8| and has a pointer 83 overlying a scale84 provided upon the outer face of the leg along side the slot. Repeatedadjustment of the height of the seat may be accomplished by bringing thepointer 83 to the same scale reading upon successive occasions.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that Various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described be* ing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

In an extensible construction, the combination of a supporting shaftmovable axially for adjustment, a retainer Xed in position and embracingsaid shaft and having an inner surface angularly arranged with respectto said shaft, a free rolling member arranged between the angularlydisposed face of the retainer and the presented face of the shaft, amember movable longitudinally of said shaft and seated on sai'd freerolling ,member and having a part extending beyond the retainer, asleeve embracing the shaft within the retainer and frictionally engagedwith the retainer, means operating at the end of movement of the shaftin one direction and actuating said sleeve tol move said free rollingmember into an enlarged portion of said retainer and out of lockingposition, and a shoulder arranged at the outer end of the shaft forengaging said part beyond the retainer upon movement of the shaft in theopposite direction to move said sleeve to an inoperative position andsaid free rolling member into operative position.

EDWARD J. LEECH.

